Major support for Otago health research

Major
support for Otago health research provided through latest
lottery grants

University of Otago
researchers have gained more than $2.6M in funding from the
Lottery Grants Board to support studies aimed at improving
the health status of New Zealanders.

The grants
support the purchase of research equipment, scholarships,
and the pursuit of research projects aimed to translate into
meaningful health outcomes and community benefit.

Researchers from across the University’s three main
campuses in Dunedin, Christchurch and Wellington have
received 35 grants in total: 25 translational research
grants, 5 equipment grants, four postdoctoral fellowships
and one PhD scholarship. A full list appears below.

Nationally, around $3.5m, comprising 49 grants, was
distributed in the Lottery Health Research 2016 funding
round.

Lottery Health - Research
Projects

The cardio-renal syndrome:
targeting aldosterone inhibition to reduce cardiac and renal
injury Professor Robert Walker (Medicine, Dunedin
School of Medicine)$22,888

Street-based sex workers in the
Community: exploring community tensions and experiences of
violence and coercionAssociate Professor Gillian
Abel (Population Health, University of Otago,
Christchurch)$37,530

Rural nursing: engaging
with the benefits and challenges of the rural setting for
sustainable workforce developmentDr Fiona
Doolan-Noble (General Practice and Rural Health, Dunedin
School of Medicine.)$37,889

Born too soon?
Predisposition to Cardio-metabolic diseases in later life
following preterm birth. Dr Clint Gray
(Paediatrics, University of Otago,
Wellington)$44,808

Effect of omega-3
supplementation on serum urate and weight in patients with
goutProfessor Lisa Stamp (Medicine, University of
Otago, Christchurch)$45,935

Personalised risk
prediction for the prevention and early detection of bowel
cancerDr Mary Jane Sneyd (Preventive and Social
Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine) $53,544

Understanding the patient experience of impairment in
cognitive and general functioning in major depressive
disorder Professor Marie Crowe (Psychological
Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch)$55,537

Optimising the utility of natriuretic peptides in
predicting cardiovascular health in middle age
Dr Timothy Prickett (Medicine, University of Otago,
Christchurch)$59,919

Validating biomarkers
for early diagnosis of pre-eclampsia
Dr Erin Macaulay (Pathology, Dunedin School of Medicine)
$63,099

Development and
Piloting of a South Asian-specific Food Frequency
Questionnaire (SANZ FFQ) to investigate associations between
their dietary patterns and health outcomes in New Zealand
Dr Sherly Parackal (Preventive and Social Medicine,
Dunedin School of Medicine)$87,442

From surveillance to strategy: Using available
data on sexually transmitted infections to identify
opportunities to improve sexual and reproductive
healthDr Antoinette Righarts (Preventive and Social
Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine) PD Fellowship -
$149,618

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